§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister in relation to Stage 1 of the Special Grants Programme from his Department for 2004–05, if he will(a) list the recipients and (b) the value of all grants awarded. [140688]
§ Yvette CooperNo grants are awarded at Stage 1 of the Special Grants Programme. A number of Stage 1 applicants are prioritised and invited to submit full Stage 2 applications. Grants are awarded after Stage 2 applications have been appraised. The list of successful applicants and the amount awarded to each is published each year on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. Successful applications to the 2004–05 competition will be announced early in 2004.
§ Mr. HayesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many renewal areas have been established by local authorities in each of the last 10 years; and how many renewal areas were established between 18 July 2002 and 18 July 2003; [141017]
(2) how many renewal areas have been established since 18 July. [141018]
§ Keith HillThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister records show that the following number of renewal areas were declared in each of the last 10 years:
Number of renewal areas declared 1993 22 1994 9 1995 3 1996 11 1997 8 1998 12 1999 3 2000 7 2001 4 2002 1 The Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 repealed the requirement for local authorities to send their declaration of renewal areas to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister from 18 July 2002. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister therefore does not hold a record of the number of renewal areas declared after 18 July 2002.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has recently received on the funding settlement for(a) North Yorkshire county council and (b) district councils in North Yorkshire. [142037]
§ Phil HopeSince the start of consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement 2004–05 on 19 November the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received a representation from North Yorkshire county council and one from Scarborough borough council.
347WThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's proposals for the funding of local authority revenue spending provide local government overall with a 4.7 per cent. increase in general grant or, a like for like basis. This is the seventh successive year of real terms increases for local government and means that since 1997, we have increased grants to local authorities by some 29 per cent. in real terms.